Did you bed that Apple betray the most headphones of any audio steel ? We ’re here to aid you settle which of the right AirPods is the right-hand one for you ?
Apple has a family of earphone that you could choose , ranging from over - ear to straight wireless in both ANC and open - ear model . We ’ve tested all of the AirPods variation , assessing how well-heeled they are to wear for elongated periods , how good the phone is and how in force , where available , the noise - cancelling carrying into action is . This listing represent the dear AirPods you could purchase at this bit in fourth dimension , with each pickax summed up below . If you want a full in - deepness limited review there are contact should you desire to delve mysterious .
AirPods have limited functionality when match with thebest Android phones . They still work , however you will lose out on some feature – Siri and Spatial Audio being two examples – so if you ’re an Android fan who ’s get across this Thomas Nelson Page then we urge take care elsewhere at ourbest wireless earbudsround - up , or have look at ourbest Beats headphones , which pop the question more compatibility with Android gimmick .
If you are an iPhone user who ’s concerned in knowing what AirPods alternatives are out there before you make a final decision , you’re able to also check out our round - ups for thebest headphonesandbest wireless headphones .
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Learn about how we test headphones
Not just anybody can review a pair of earpiece . You do n’t need superhuman hearing to say what ’s good , but you do want to recognize what to mind out for .
Our headphone tests are done by some of the best and most fertile reviewers in the manufacture , with year of experience listening to everything from the plasticky freebie earbuds that come with your smartphone , to five - figure beasts of drinking glass and marble . We get it on music and we require your tunes to sound good , too .
We hear to every pair of headphones we can get on or in our ears . We use a variety of source , from basic MP3s playing on a laptop to high - tone caterpillar tread on dedicated hi - res audio players .
Our trial tracks are wide - range to give headphones a thorough challenge . They ’re also familiar , so we fuck every track backwards , and we know which bits might trouble the lesser performers .
We listen again and again , and we do that for hebdomad in display case the sound changes – because it ordinarily does . Then we ’ll listen to similarly price rivals and come up with a verdict that mull the performance and features for the money .
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Pros
Cons
Apple AirPods 3
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC
Trusted Score
If you want the most premium experience possible from Apple ’s earbud range then the conversation get down and ends with theAirPods Pro 2 . Not only are they fantastic ANC earbuds in their own right field , but they bid up a huge improvement over their forerunner .
talk ofactive randomness cancelling , the Pro 2 ring powerful a powerful ANC performance that can slim down the world around you to a achievable hum . Apple claim that the ANC is 2x stronger than what was useable on the first genAirPods professional , and while that ’s a tricky statement to avow , it certainly feels apropos when you really get to habituate the updated earbuds . This is a Godsend if you commute regularly or if you live in a busybodied household and get a moment ’s peace can be tricky .
If you ’d favor the ANC to convert throughout the day however then there is an exclusive feature for the AirPods Pro 2 sleep together as Adaptive Audio . This mode engages the AirPods Pro 2 to listen out to what ’s live on around you , lowering and heightening either the ANC or Transparency Mode , depend on your surroundings .
On top of the beefed up ANC , the AirPods Pro 2 also have a handful of new lineament of living feature include verbalizer within the charging case that can let loose a strait when prompted – handy if you ever lose it . Although to make issue even well-to-do , the case is now accommodate with the same U1 chip as the Apple AirTag which let you to locate it via Precision Finding .
Of of course , any distich of earbuds has to be backed up by big audio timbre and the AirPods Pro 2 are n’t lacking here either . There ’s a typesetter’s case to be made that you might chance a more balanced sound on theSony WF-1000XM5but the AirPods Pro 2 more than concur their own with luscious item and powerful bass that can impart out the good in almost any track .
TheAirPods 3are the third - gen model in Apple ’s standard AirPods line , and they are a satisfying recommendationfor iPhone usersand those after a pair of low-priced lawful wireless earbuds .
The AirPods 3 feature film a redesign with a scant prow than those on the 1st and 2nd generation models , and the sizing of the housing is bigger so it can fit more auricle . We contain them on a couple of streak and found the bud stayed put . They ’re a decent stake for fitness workouts with anIPX4 ratingthat protects against sweat and rainfall .
The AirPods 3 have a longer battery living than the Pro model at 30 hours total ( 6 in each earbud ) and like the Pro they take advantage ofMagSafe support , which give up them to magnetically seize to supported battery charger for a simpler connection .
Like the other AirPods on this tilt , there ’s first-class iOS and macOS integration for iPhone and Mac users . The carrying out ofSpatial AudiowithDolby Atmos , which supports immersive 3D sound with head teacher trailing , and we find the burden a fiddling off - putting when listening to something and go around a luck .
To our ears , the wakeless timbre is an improvement over theAirPods 2 , but the vocals are n’t as crisply delivered as they are on the Pros . There ’s also no noise cancellation , and with the clear design that means auditory sensation will leak and involve what you ’re listening to . They have been replace by the AirPods 4 , which has the same plan but also extend disturbance - cancellation .
TheAirPods Maxare Apple ’s first over - capitulum twosome and their RRP of $ 549 / £ 549 instantly makes them more expensive than Sony’sWH-1000XM5andBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones , but we still find a lot to admire about them .
The conception is unique but comfortable to wear with the Apple Watch - like Digital Crown and button built into the ear cups instead of gesture controls , an aspect of the headphones we appreciated for the feedback they offered . Unlike thetrue wireless AirPods , there ’s a range of colourful choices to piece from , but the earphone ca n’t be folded due to their design and the carry caseful ( which also file the headphones ) does n’t put up much protection and looks silly .
There ’s muscular adaptive noise cancellation that competitor that offer by the likes of Sony ’s olderWH-1000XM4 , and there ’s the common fantastic integration with the Apple ecosystem , along with Spatial AudioDolby Atmosfor more immersive listening with Apple Music and some support apps . Battery is towards the crushed destruction of the market at only 20 hours , so they lack the longevity of other earpiece on the market .
We bump the audio calibre to be excellent , the threefold H1 chips and Adaptive EQ producing a balanced sound that impresses across a wide range of music . There ’s passel of basso to count on , while we never set up higher frequencies to sound stressed either , and no distortion when the loudness is pumped up .
For those who desire higher quality audio over Bluetooth , the lack of anyHi - Res Audiosupport is a score against it when less expensive Sony andTechnics headphonesfeature that stratum of support . If you want some of the features of the AirPods Max it ’s worth looking at theBeats Studio Pro .
TheAirPods 4are the sequel to theAirPods 3 , and come in two versions : one with noise - cancellation , and another without .
The version we tested was the ANC model , and while we had doubts about how well an open - ear pattern would work with ANC , the AirPods 4 do a amazingly good line at removing ambient disturbance . TheAirPods Pro 2are still the better option for noise - cancellation , but if you do n’t like that designing , the AirPods 4 are your next best bet .
We ascertain the AirPods 4 to be more comfortable to wear than previous exemplar , though the one - size of it purpose may not suit all ears as it does n’t feature any capitulum - tip to provide a stronger sealskin . These earphone also use Apple ’s Force Sensor for control , though disappointingly there ’s no means of controlling the volume on the earbuds .
The AirPods 4 does n’t have as long a battery life as the AirPods 3 , registering four hours with ANC and five without in our tests . But these earbuds have flip from a Lightning connection to USB - C for institutionalise , and there is wireless charging financial backing let in to .
There are Apple - specific feature such asSpatial AudiowithDolby Atmos , which supports immersive 3D sound recording with head trailing ( on Apple Music ) , agile pairing with iOS devices as well as Audio Sharing , where you may share what you ’re listening to with another pair of AirPods . The Conversation Awareness feature of speech is n’t single to iOS devices , as it enables the Transparency mode when you start spill the beans , but we have n’t had much fortune in make this feature piece of work .
As long as you ’re not reckon for audiophile quality sound from the AirPods 4 , we think you ’ll be happy with the operation of these headphones . They cross-file more in the basso department , the midrange performance is clear , and there ’s a bright energy to the treble . Even with ANC they ’re a better listen in quieter surround . Nevertheless , in footing of the standard AirPods line , these are the best ones yet .
Test Data
Full Specs
